Texas and South Carolina go blue as Democrats sweep to stunning Senate victory

Texas and South Carolina go blue as Democrats sweep to stunning Senate victory The results have been a big surprise for many - as Texas' new Democrat Senator wasn't even alive the last time his party won a Senate seat in the state Texas has turned blue in the US midterm elections after southern voters elected a Democratic Senator for the first time in decades, sweeping to victory in the Senate. Texas has been Republican for decades, with the last Democrat Governor being Ann Richards in 1995. The last time the Democrats won a Senate seat was 38 years ago. Shortly after their victories were confirmed, the Democrats officially regained control of the Senate. Both of those long waits came to an end on Wednesday, November 4, as James Talarico was elected to the Senate. The Austin state representative defeated Republican Ken Paxton in a race that once seemed like another far reach for Democrats. Talarico benefited from a combination of circumstances, including Paxton’s liabilities and his own stellar fundraising. In the race’s closing months, Trump tried to paint Talarico as out of the mainstream, with Elon Musk also spending $158 million to oppose the Democrat. But Talarico won in Texas’ metro areas, as well as in once GOP-leaning urban and suburban areas. The last Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat was Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 - Talarico was born in May 1989. At the state level, Gina Hinajosa won the Gubernatorial election, beating incumbent Republican Greg Abbott by 1.3 percent in a tight race. Her victory was seen as an upset, as Abbott was seeking his fourth term, having led the state since 2014. Ms Hinojosa, a state House member from Austin, will be Texas’ first Latina Governor. Elsewhere, South Carolina — typically described as ‘ruby red’ such is the support for the GOP — flipped blue as Annie Andrews defeated Darline Graham in the Senate race. Ms Graham was the sister of long-term Senator Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly in July. Speaking to cheering supporters, Andrews acknowledged her historic victory — she’s the first woman to be elected to represent South Carolina in the Senate — and lamented vitriol in politics and influence from billionaires. “South Carolina, you have shown the nation what is possible,” Andrews said. She also said she’d stand up for her state, even if it means disagreeing with other Democrats. But Andrews also alluded to Trump’s support for Darline Graham, her opponent and the sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose seat Darline Graham was appointed to fill. “The Senate seat does not belong to one family, one party or to Washington, D.C.,” Andrews added. As well as Texas and South Carolina, Josh Turek defeated Ashley Hinson in Iowa, and Adam Hamilton ousted Roger Marshall in Kansas, Sherrod Brown beat Jon Husted in Ohio and Roy Cooper took an open North Carolina seat as part of a cascade of stunning victories.